Milton D. Mason

Mason Honorable Milton D. Mason, age 97, of Mankato, died Sunday, February 10, 2002 at Immanuel St. Joseph Hospital in Mankato. Services will be held Friday, February 15, 2002 at 11:00 AM at the Centenary United Methodist Church in The Multi-Church Center South Sanctuary. Visitation is Thursday 4:00-6:30 PM at the Landkamer Johnson Boman Funeral Home and one hour before services at the church Friday. Private Interment is at Glennwood Cemetery, Mankato. Memorials are preferred to MCRI or New Focus. Milton D. Mason was born October 5, 1904 at Twin Valley, MN, the son of James D. and Gina (Dahl) Mason. He married Marion Dailey at Mankato in 1927. He graduated from Fertile Minnesota High School in 1921 and Macalester College in 1926 and he embarked on a journalism career. His wife was interested in Law so he accompanied her to William Mitchell College of Law where he graduated in 1932. After graduation he began practicing Law with his father-in-law and wife at Dailey Mason & Mason Law Frm. In 1935 he was elected Special Muncipal Judge in Mankato. He was elected Blue Earth Co. Attorney in 1938, and served in that position until 1949. In 1949 he was appointed District Judge by then Govenor Luther Youngdahl. He presided over many interesting cases, including the vegetable oil tank explosion, and resulting in damages, near Sibley Park. He handled a number of unusual criminal cases. He was widely regarded in legal circles as exceptionally even tempered, yet fully in control of his court room. In criminal sentencing he took a personal interest in the defendants and several of the people he sentenced later became active members of the business and government community. Judge Mason was one of the first District Judges to serve on special assignment for the Minnesota Supreme Court, where he wrote several important options. After retirement Judge Mason continued to serve throughout the state, serving extended terms in Makato, Minneapolis, Duluth and Rochester. He was a member of the local, state and American Bar Associations, a 67 year member of Rotary and Past Exalted Ruler of Mankato Elks Lodge. He was a 60 year member of the First Baptist Church and after is dissolution, became a member of Centenary United Methodist Church. He is survived by five children; three sons, Dr. Donald Mason and wife Elaine of Novato, CA, Honorable James D. Mason and wife Marcia of Mankato, Honorable John M. (Jack) Mason and wife Vivian of Minneapolis; two daughters, Jean Caswell and husband Philip of Racine, WI and Doctor Marilyn Mason of Minneapolis; one brother, Monte A. Mason of St. Paul; 19 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife; two brothers and two sisters.

Published on February 13, 2002